Phallus ravenelii

Scientific name: Phallus ravenelii Berk. & M. A. Curtis Derivation of name: Ravenelii is named in honor of
Henry William Ravenel (1814-1887) a South Carolina
mycologist and botanist. Synonyms: Aedycia ravenelii (Berk. & M. A. Curtis)
Kuntze Common name(s): Ravenel's stinkhorn.Phylum: BasidiomycotaOrder: Phallales Family: Phallaceae Occurrence on wood substrate: Saprobic; solitary or
clustered on wood debris, sawdust, rotten stumps and logs;
August through October.
Dimensions: Fruit body up to 20 cm tall; head up to 4 cm
wide; stalk up to 3 cm thick. Description: Fruit body at first a white to pinkish-lilac egg-
like stage, resembling a puffball. The egg is attached to the
substrate by white to pinkish mycelial strands (rhizomorphs).
The outer wall (peridium) of the egg splits and a hollow,
spongy, whitish stalk expands bearing a head covered with a
slimy, olive-green fetid spore mass.Edibility: Inedible although Miller states the eggs are edible.
Comments: Flies are attracted to the fetid slimy mass and
serve to disperse the spores.